(PS6-52) The intersection of queer, religious, and spiritual identities: A qualitative analysis of community, relational, and mental health experiences

Abstract Text: An important cornerstone of life and identity for many, religion has been shown to impart protective effects against negative mental health outcomes and to provide a framework for individuals to develop strong support networks (Machado, 2022). There are approximately 5.3 million LGBTQ+ adults in the United States identifying as religious; however, negative views of queer identity are still perpetuated throughout society, leading to struggles of isolation, shame, guilt, and internal conflict for many queer individuals (Beagan & Hattie, 2015; Conron et al., 2020; Fox, 2022). Thus, it is no surprise that religion has been associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety for queer individuals (Rosenkrantz et. al., 2016). The intersection of faith and sexual minority identities is understudied, highlighting how crucial it is to understand the coping mechanisms that are used within this population so that they may be better served. The current study included a sample of 8 participants, including three women, three transgender individuals, and two non-binary individuals. Sexual orientation was similarly diverse (n = 5 lesbians, n = 1 bisexual, n = 1 gay, n = 1 queer). After informed consent was collected, data collection was completed through the use of brief surveys and 45-minute semi-structured interviews, which allowed for in-depth exploration of how religion impacted participants’ sexual and gender identity development, their sense of community, their ability to maintain romantic relationships, and their ability to receive mental health care. Questions also explored how religion and spirituality have served as a positive part of their healing journey, or how they found community and support elsewhere. Participants received $10 Amazon gift cards for completing the interview. Data collection is ongoing, which will be incorporated into future data analyses. Transcript analysis was used to systematically identify patterns, themes, and insights across each interview. Four primary themes were identified with respect to common queer experiences with religion: (1) frequent exposure to (and thus internalization of) anti-queer messaging, (2) perceived inability to live authentically (e.g., out of fears of judgment, alienation, disappointment, and aggression from family or community members), (3) a shortage of queer-informed mental health practitioners, often resulting in negative experiences with other providers, and (4) compassion for those holding anti-queer sentiments and a willingness to re-enter more accepting religious or spiritual spaces. These themes are in line with other literature that suggests religion is frequently a source of immense pain and suffering for many LGBTQ+ individuals, but there is often still a desire for community and/or integration of one’s identities and beliefs (Beagan & Hattie, 2015). Such findings continue to affirm the need for mental health practitioners to be appropriately trained and open to discussing religious and spiritual concerns with their queer clients. Similar to the clinical implications that this research offers, such qualitative data can also be used to advocate for more explicit affirming practices in religious and spiritual environments (Lockett et al., 2023).